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BACKGROUND: In the present work, acute gastric ulcer models were constructed by administering hydrochloric acid/ethanol. The mice ingested white jade snail secretion (WJSS) through gastric infusion. Ulcer areas in gastric tissue were recorded, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also measured. Notably, high‐throughput 16S rDNA analysis of intestinal flora and determination of amino acid composition in feces were performed to understand the effect of WJSS on model mice. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the ulcer area in the WJSS low‐, medium‐ and high‐concentration groups declined by 28.02%, 39.57% and 77.85%, respectively. MDA content decreased by 24.71%, 49.58% and 64.25%, and SOD relative enzyme activity fell by 28.19%, 43.37% and 9.60%, respectively. The amounts of amino acids in the low‐, medium‐ and high‐concentration groups were slightly lower, and probiotic bacteria such as Bacteroidetes and Lactobacillales increased in different‐concentration WJSS groups. Adding WJSS contributes to the establishment of beneficial intestinal flora and the absorption of amino acids. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that WJSS has a beneficial effect on inhibiting hydrochloric acid–ethanolic gastric ulcers, suggesting that WJSS has excellent potential as a novel anti‐ulcer agent. Combined with ulcer area, MDA content, SOD content, gut probiotics and other indicators, a high concentration of WJSS had the best protective effect on acute gastric ulcer. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic‐assisted extraction is a rapid and effective extraction method that uses ultrasound energy and solvents to extract target compounds from various plant matrices. In this study, the ultrasonic‐assisted extraction conditions of sour jujube were optimized. A five‐level central composite design (CCD) with four variables was used to evaluate ultrasonic treatment variables influencing the total saponin content (TSC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total phenolic content (TPC) extracted from sour jujube. The solvent concentration, extraction time, ultrasonic power, and solid‐to‐liquid (S/L) ratio were optimized using aqueous ethanol and methanol solutions as extraction solvents. A central composite design (CCD) was used for an in‐depth study, and then the optimal value that could produce the maximum TPC, TFC, TSC, and four in vitro antioxidant activities (scavenging activity of hydroxyl free radicals, ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), phosphomolybdic acid reduction method, and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activity) was determined. Hydrogen peroxide‐induced oxidative stress experiment confirmed that the Jujube extract could have an antioxidant role in vivo. The relationship between the contents of three compounds and the antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo was further studied. The results showed that optimizing methanol and ethanol extraction process parameters could improve target components' extraction efficiency. Under the optimum conditions, the TFC and TPC yields of sour jujube by ethanol are better than methanol, while the yield of TSC by methanol is better than ethanol. In vivo data showed that Jujube extract protects against the adverse effects of oxidative stress and improves the life span of female and male Drosophila. This study provides a valuable reference for the full use of Ziziphus jujube, as well as a new direction in food development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyropolyporus fomentarius (L. ex Fr.) Teng is a unique woody mushroom due to its medicinal value with numerous pharmacological activities. This study presented the potential antitumor and immunomodulatory properties of ethanol extract of P. fomentarius. The results showed that P. fomentarius extract inhibited the viability of murine leukemia L1210 cells in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 value of 69.35 μg/ml. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the extract induced apoptosis in L1210 cells. Additionally, the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed as well as the changes of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2, and Bax, suggesting that proapoptosis effect of the extract involved mitochondria-related pathway. Simultaneously, the P. fomentarius extract significantly enhanced the proliferation and activation of splenic lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner. This P. fomentarius extract has potential applications as a natural antitumor agent with immunomodulatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]